The best music downloading websites

While streaming sites such as Pandora might be convenient for an on-the-go music experience, where do you turn when you want to hear music how the artist intended? Listening to live music is one way to do that, but unfortunately we can't put all of our favourite artists in our pocket for mini-serenading sessions. That's where Hi-Res Audio comes into play.

Hi-res audio blows MP3s and AAC files out of the water. Essential data is lost when you listen to music via MP3 files because of the lossy compression that makes these files smaller. High-Resolution Audio can replicate the whole range of sound that the artist created when recording the content. Sony understands the importance of preserving the originality of music, which is why we’ve developed Hi-Res Audio products that allow audiophiles (like you) to listen to music in the best sound quality.

So where can you find Hi-Res Audio songs that the audiophile in you craves? Take a look at our Top 5 picks for Hi-Res Audio downloading websites to below.

1. Acoustic Sounds Super HiRez

About:

If you're looking for the finest selection of DSD music files, look no further than the Super HiRez site. This site brings 25 years of experience to the table and offers one of the largest selections of songs available in high resolution.

Available file formats:

DSD, FLAC and ALAC.

Music Genres:

2. HDtracks

About:

HDtracks, launched in 2008, offers the largest variety of available hi res titles for download along with a wide choice of file formats, with sample rates as high as 352/24-bit. The HDtracks team shares its philosophy that everyone involved in the creation process should be acknowledged and they encourage all of their customers to learn more about the production process. Quality control is key as they test every album file.

Available file formats:

Music Genres:

3. ProStudio Masters

About:

ProStudio Masters doesn't mess around with media transfers, offering only high-resolution digital masters that are directly received from labels. It includes a top sellers section so that you can find music that others have deemed worthy enough to add to their collection. It also offers a section that features recently added music, so you can always be on the brink of discovering the latest hi-res music.

Available file formats:

AIFF, ALAC and DSD.

Music Genres:

4. iTrax

About:

iTrax offers high definition audio and video downloads with surround sound (no, this isn’t just for movies anymore). Whether you're invested in high quality audio equipment like high-res headphones, home theatre systems or a hi-res music player system, you want the songs and other audio you play to sound as awesome as the artist originally intended. iTrax is an excellent place to build your music library because it only offers songs that are recorded using high definition digital production

Available file formats:

FLAC and WAV

Music Genres:

5. Native DSD Music and Beyond

About:

The "native" in the title of this site is a testament to how seriously Native DSD Music and Beyond takes hi-res audio. It only offers downloads that were sourced as early as possible in a DSD session recording. DSD sessions lend themselves to acoustic music because they contain a low amount of instrument detail which can translate to sound quality degradation.